Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. An apparatus to facilitate collection of information regarding underground utilities while walking or standing erect on ground, pavement or other surface above the underground facilities, the apparatus comprising: an elongated hand-held housing; a paint canister holder coupled to the elongated hand-held housing to hold a marker dispenser configured to dispense at least one marker; a location tracking system, disposed within or coupled to the elongated hand-held housing, including a receiver to determine a geographic location of the location tracking system; a memory disposed within or coupled to the elongated hand-held housing; and a processor, disposed within or coupled to the elongated hand-held housing and communicatively coupled to the location tracking system and the memory, to receive from the location tracking system location data relating to the geographic location of the location tracking system and to store in the memory the received location data, and to further receive information relating to at least one characteristic of the at least one marker and store in the memory at least some of the information relating to the at least one characteristic of the at least one marker when the marker dispenser is disposed in the paint canister holder.
A handheld apparatus is used to collect information about underground utilities while a user walks or stands above ground. The device includes an elongated housing, a holder for a marker dispenser (like a spray paint can), a location tracking system (GPS) to determine its geographic location, a memory to store data, and a processor. The processor receives location data from the GPS and stores it in memory. When a marker dispenser is attached, the processor also stores information about the marker's characteristics (e.g., color, type).
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: a triggering system communicatively coupled to the location tracking system and the processor to trigger logging in the memory of the location data relating to the geographic location of the location tracking system.
This describes a portable marking device, designed for use by someone walking or standing to mark underground utilities. It features an elongated handle that holds a marker dispenser, like a spray paint can. The device integrates a location tracking system (such as GPS) to determine its precise geographic position. An internal processor manages the system, receiving location data from the tracker and storing it in memory. It also records information about the type or characteristics of the marker being used when a dispenser is loaded. Additionally, the device includes a triggering system, such as a button or switch, connected to both the location tracker and the processor. When this trigger is actuated, it causes the processor to immediately log the current geographic location data into the device's memory.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the triggering system further triggers logging in the memory of time data relating to actuation of the triggering system.
Building on the previous description, when the triggering system is activated, the apparatus also logs the current time into memory along with the location data.
4. The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising the marker dispenser disposed in the paint canister holder, wherein the triggering system is communicatively coupled to the marker dispenser to cause a dispensing of the at least one marker upon actuation of the triggering system.
This apparatus includes the marker dispenser and the triggering system. The triggering system not only logs data but also activates the marker dispenser to release the marker (e.g., spray paint). So, activating the trigger both marks the ground and records data.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the triggering system triggers the logging in the memory of the location data only when the at least one marker is dispensed from the marker dispenser.
In this variation, the apparatus only logs the location data if a marker is actually dispensed from the marker dispenser. If the triggering system is activated but no marker comes out, no location data is saved.
6. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the triggering system further triggers logging in the memory of time data when the at least one marker is dispensed from the marker dispenser.
Continuing from above, the apparatus logs the time data only when the marker is dispensed. If the marker isn't dispensed after activating the trigger, the time is not recorded.
7. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the triggering system further triggers logging in the memory of information relating to at least one characteristic of the at least one marker.
Additionally, the apparatus logs information about the marker's characteristics (e.g., color, type) at the same time as dispensing and logging location/time.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising the marker dispenser disposed in the paint canister holder.
This simplifies the original apparatus by including the marker dispenser directly in the paint canister holder, ensuring it is readily available.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: a triggering system communicatively coupled to the processor to trigger logging in the memory of time data relating to actuation of the triggering system.
This apparatus includes a triggering system. When the triggering system is activated, the current time is logged into memory. The location data is captured separately as described in the original claim.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: a communication system communicatively coupled to the processor and including a wireless interface to transmit a signal from the apparatus, wherein the signal transmitted by the wireless interface represents the location data relating to the geographic location of the location tracking system.
The apparatus includes a communication system with a wireless interface (e.g., Bluetooth, Wi-Fi) connected to the processor. This interface transmits a signal containing the location data. This allows the location data to be sent to another device.
11. A method, comprising: A) using a hand-held apparatus to walk or stand erect over ground, pavement or other surface above at least one underground utility line, the hand-held apparatus comprising: an elongated housing; a paint canister holder coupled to the elongated housing to hold a marker dispenser configured to dispense at least one marker; a location tracking system, disposed within or coupled to the elongated housing, including a receiver to determine a geographic location of the hand-held apparatus; a memory disposed within or coupled to the elongated housing; and a processor, disposed within or coupled to the elongated housing and communicatively coupled to the location tracking system and the memory; B) receiving, by the processor from the location tracking system, location data relating to the geographic location of the hand-held apparatus as the hand-held apparatus is used in A); and C) storing in the memory the received location data; D) receiving, by the processor, information relating to at least one characteristic of the at least one marker when the marker dispenser is disposed in the paint canister holder; and E) storing in the memory at least some of the information relating to the at least one characteristic of the at least one marker upon receiving the information in D).
A method is defined for collecting underground utility information while walking above ground using a handheld apparatus. The apparatus includes a housing, marker dispenser holder, GPS location tracking, memory, and a processor. The method involves: (A) walking with the apparatus; (B) receiving location data from the GPS; (C) storing the location data in memory; (D) receiving information about the marker characteristics; (E) storing the marker information in memory.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the hand-held apparatus further comprises a triggering system communicatively coupled to the location tracking system and the processor, and wherein the method further comprises: D) actuating the triggering system to log in the memory the location data relating to the geographic location of the hand-held apparatus.
The method builds on the previous description. The handheld apparatus has a triggering system. The method includes: (D) Activating the triggering system causes the location data to be logged into memory. This step is added to the walking, receiving location data, and storing location data steps from the original method.
13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising logging in the memory time data relating to actuation of the triggering system in D).
The method of claim 12 is expanded to include logging the time data when the triggering system is activated. Thus the step D also includes logging time.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the hand-held apparatus further comprises the marker dispenser disposed in the paint canister holder, and wherein the method further comprises: dispensing the at least one marker from the marker dispenser upon actuation of the triggering system in D).
The method of claim 12 is extended. The hand-held apparatus has a marker dispenser in the paint canister holder. Step D now includes dispensing the marker upon activation of the triggering system, in addition to logging location data.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein D) comprises logging in the memory the location data only when the at least one marker is dispensed from the marker dispenser.
In the method from claim 14, location data is logged into the memory ONLY when the marker is dispensed. Activating the trigger without dispensing a marker will not trigger the logging of location data.
16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising logging in the memory of time data when the at least one marker is dispensed from the marker dispenser.
The method in claim 14 is augmented to also log the time when the marker is dispensed in addition to the location data.
17. The method of claim 14 , further comprising logging in the memory of information relating to at least one characteristic of the at least one marker.
In the method of claim 14, the method logs information about the marker's characteristics at the time the marker is dispensed.
18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the hand-held apparatus further comprises a communication system communicatively coupled to the processor and including a wireless interface, and wherein the method further comprises: D) transmitting from the wireless interface a signal representing the location data relating to the geographic location of the hand-held apparatus.
The method of claim 11 adds transmitting location data wirelessly. (D) Transmit from the wireless interface a signal representing the geographic location data.
19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the hand-held apparatus further comprises the marker dispenser disposed in the paint canister holder, and wherein the method further comprises: D) receiving, by the processor, information relating to at least one characteristic of the at least one marker; and E) storing in the memory at least some of the information relating to the at least one characteristic of the at least one marker.
Building on method claim 11, the method now includes: (D) the processor receiving information about marker characteristics, and (E) storing marker characteristic information in memory.
20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the hand-held apparatus further comprises a triggering system communicatively coupled to the processor, and wherein the method further comprises: D) actuating the triggering system to log in the memory time data relating to actuation of the triggering system.
The method of claim 11 is augmented to include a triggering system that is communicatively coupled to the processor. The expanded method also includes actuating the triggering system to log time data.
21. An apparatus to facilitate collection of information regarding underground utilities while walking or standing erect on ground, pavement or other surface above the underground facilities, the apparatus comprising: an elongated hand-held housing; a paint canister holder coupled to the elongated hand-held housing to hold a marker dispenser configured to dispense at least one marker; a location tracking system, disposed within or coupled to the elongated hand-held housing, including a receiver to determine a geographic location of the location tracking system; a memory disposed within or coupled to the elongated hand-held housing; a processor, disposed within or coupled to the elongated hand-held housing and communicatively coupled to the location tracking system and the memory, to receive from the location tracking system location data relating to the geographic location of the location tracking system and to store in the memory the location data, and to receive information relating to at least one characteristic of the at least one marker and store in the memory at least some of the information relating to the at least one characteristic of the at least one marker when the marker dispenser is disposed in the paint canister holder; a triggering system communicatively coupled to the location tracking system and the processor to trigger logging in the memory of the location data relating to the geographic location of the location tracking system upon actuation of the triggering system; and a communication system communicatively coupled to the processor and including a wireless interface to transmit a signal from the apparatus, wherein the signal transmitted by the wireless interface represents the location data relating to the geographic location of the location tracking system.
The apparatus includes a handheld housing, a marker dispenser holder, a GPS location tracking system, memory, and a processor. The processor receives location data from the GPS and stores it in memory. It also receives and stores information about the marker. A triggering system, connected to the location tracking system and processor, triggers logging of location data when activated. Furthermore, the device has a wireless communication system that transmits the location data as a signal.
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December 2, 2014
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